Interpreting unusual imagery: a rare rock art depiction of a bushbuck in the southeastern mountains of South Africa

ABSTRACT

A rare, painted depiction of a bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) is reported from the Drakensberg Mountains of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The painting is located outside the known distribution range of the species. It is identified based on the close correlation between details of the painting and the colouration of the animal. Differences between the painting and animal are noted. These differences are discussed in terms of San views on anomalous individual animals. How depictions of such animals may act as symbols is also discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Une rare représentation peinte d’un bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) située dans les montagnes Drakensberg du Cap-Oriental en Afrique du Sud est présentée. La peinture est localisée en dehors de la zone de répartition connue de l’espèce. Elle est identifiée à partir de la corrélation étroite faite entre des détails de la peinture et la robe de l’animal. Des différences entre la peinture et l’animal sont notées. Ces différences sont discutées du point de vue des perceptions San des animaux anormaux. La manière dont les représentations de ces animaux peuvent agir comme symboles est également discutée.

KEYWORDS:

• South Africa
• rock art
• bushbuck
• Tragelaphus scriptus

Acknowledgements

I thank Helen Lechmere-Oertel for directing me to the site in which the bushbuck painting is located. I am grateful to David Lewis-Williams, Lara Mallen and two reviewers for their comments on the manuscript. Wendy Voorvelt prepared the drawings. I thank Iris Guillemard for translating the abstract into French. This work is based on research supported by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). Any opinion, finding and conclusion or recommendation expressed in this material is that of the author and the NRF does not accept any liability in this regard.

Notes

1 References of this form refer to unpublished manuscripts of the Bleek-Lloyd archive compiled from interviews and discussions with /Xam San informants in the late nineteenth century. The archive is available online at http://lloydbleekcollection.cs.uct.ac.za

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David G. Pearce

David Pearce is Associate Professor at the Rock Art Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He has conducted field research on rock art in several parts of southern Africa.